THIS is with reference to the report ‘19 held after angry mobs set 10 trucks on fire in North Karachi’ (April 11). Road traffic accidents (RTAs) involving heavy dumpers and water tankers in the provincial capital have resulted in the loss of several lives over the last few months. There has been much hue and cry over these tragedies, and rightly so, but we also need to evaluate things from a technical perspective.

Heavy vehicles are not like other city vehicles as it is impossible to bring them to an abrupt halt like the other relatively smaller vehicles. Their starting and accelerating system is a bit slower owing to their heavy structure and diesel engines. This is why, while moving, they cannot be stopped suddenly, and it takes relatively more time than other vehicles to bring them to a halt.

On the other hand, the city traffic moves within a close range of these heavy vehicles amid heavy traffic. Under the current situation in Karachi due to ongoing construction activities, in particular, and poor road conditions, in general, there is hardly a perfect environment for the heavy vehicles to move safely on the roads.

Under the prevailing conditions, even the light vehicle drivers face huge diffi-culties in commuting safely. These conditions add unnecessary pressure on traffic police officials as well to keep the traffic flowing.

The concept of safe driving is associated with many factors and needs a holistic approach, including making conditions favourable for all drivers. I do not see it as the sole fault of the drivers of dumpers and tankers.

The ongoing and never-ending cons-truction work at Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line project at the University Road has left no space for the large vehicles to move safely. The same is the case with most city roads. The RTAs in Karachi on an almost daily basis are the domino effect of various factors that need to be taken care of.

The existing system of driving licence issuance is far from being ideal. As a result, we see unskilled and reckless drivers who play with the lives of innocent people. Finding themselves stuck amid poor road conditions, these semi-skilled drivers struggle to control their heavy vehicles. They are at fault, for sure. But they are not the only ones at fault.

Besides, most overhead pedestrian bridges, especially on the University Road, have been removed amid the ongoing BRT chaos. This has resulted in more pedestrian traffic on the roads.

Moreover, potholes on the roads have now become a thing of the past; they have now become craters.

These elements also make it challenging for anyone to drive safely. As regards water tankers, they should not be operating at all. Why is there no water in the line when people pay taxes?

Undoubtedly, all these factors indicate that poor governance and a lack of political will are basically the elements that are killing people on Karachi roads.

Shakil Akbar Rizvi
Karachi

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2025